CASE STUDY: A STUDENT'S FREE SPEECH

To the Editor:

You thunder in righteous indignation for juvenile free speech
("Students' Right to Free Speech," editorial, March 20). The Alaska
boy who unfurled a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" is what used to
be called a wiseacre. He is not a freedom fighter.

It is true that the rightly affronted school administrators might have
lightened up a bit. Nevertheless, the kid's parents should have
adjudicated the issue, not the federal courts. A visit to the woodshed
to contemplate, at leisure, the difference between freedom and license
would been the most salutary solution.

Bad cases usually don't make good law, nor does condoning the
irresponsible behavior of children promote good citizenship.

Bill Smethurst

Ridgewood, N.J.